Garbage can holder



O Ullltfid States Patent [1113,545,709

[72] Inventor Richard N; Harvey 2,715,005 8/1955 Hilderbrand 248/ (TC) 413 Main St., Ida Grove, Iowa 51445 2,842,328 7/1958 Youngblood ,248/(TC) {21] Appl. No. 731,146 FOREIGN PATENTS 21 z d 323 3 821,314 8/1937 France 248/146 [45] meme Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [54] GARBAGE CAN HOLDER 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[521 LS. 248/146, ABSTRACT: A device including a pair of U-shaped upstand- 248/156 ing members in nesting relationship such that their base por- [51 Ill!- Cl. fions form a crogg The upstanding legs of the U-sh ped memof Search, u bets are interconnected near their upper end a e ond 163 I64, I887, J i I46 of crossed members and provide a support base for a garbage can. A circular band interconnects the upper ends of the upl56] cited standing U-shaped members. A stake may be thread-ably U ED STATES PATENTS secured to the top pair of cross members at their point of in- 999,202 8/19" Browning 248/146 tersection and extend freely through the base portions of the 1,779,867 10/1930 Ahrold 248/146 lower U-shaped members for anchoring engagement with the 2,187,159 1/1940 Koch 248/l88.1 ground-supporting surface.

PATENTED DEB 8|97B v 3.545709 Akron/9 5 GARBAGE CAN HOLDER The rules and regulations governing the use of garbage cans often require that they be positioned a certain distance above the ground for sanitary reasons. The higher the garbage can is placed above the ground the more likely it is however to be tipped over. The conventional garbage can holder support is thus quite large and bulky or is flimsy and unstable and unsatisfactory for supporting the garbage can.

The garbage can holder of this invention is simple in construction involving basically a pair of strap members formed into U-shaped members having a pair of crossmembers interconnecting the upper ends of the U-shaped members in forming the support base for the garbage can while a metal band interconnects the top ends of the U-shaped members above the upper crossmembers to thereby give support and stability to the can and to the U-shaped members. A stake is detachably provided for being threadably secured to the upper crossed members and slidably engages the lower crossed base portions engaging the ground. The garbage can holder may also be secured by bolts or the like to a concrete support.

The garbage can holder has a large ground-engaging base formed by the crossed base portions of the U-shaped members while the legs of the U-shaped members are angled inwardly as they extend upwardly to terminate in vertical upstanding portions which define substantially the circumference of the conventional garbage can. The angling inwardly of the legs of the U-shaped members strengthens the garbage can holder. The entire garbage can holder except for the stake may be formed from strap iron material which is conveniently available.

These and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description when taken into consideration with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of the garbage can holder in use holding a garbage can and located in a trailer court;-

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the garbage can holder only and showing the garbage can by the dash lines;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the garbage can holder taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stake connection to the upper crossmembers taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the garbage can holder alone butshowing it anchored to a concrete slab by anchoring bolts.

The garbage can holder of this invention is referred to generally in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 10 and is shown supporting a garbage can 12 of conventional design.

The holder 10 is formed from four strap irons of flat steel Iinches by one-eighth inch. Two of the strap irons are used to form U-shaped members 14 and 16 which cross each other at the center of their base portions 20 and 22. The base portions 20 and 22 merge into inwardly and upwardly extending leg portions 24 and 26 which are engaged by the ends of a pair of crossed strap irons 28 and 30 at their outer ends. The leg portions 24 and 26 include vertical upper end portions 32 and 34 above the crossed members 28 and 30 which are interconnected by a circular strap member 36 which is adapted to matingly embrace the outer peripheral side of the garbage can I2.

A threaded opening 40 is formed through the center of the crossed members 28 and 30 as best seen in FIG. 4 and receives a threaded rod stake 42 having a lock nut 44 for being tightened upwardly against the lower crossmember 30. The stake rod 42 extends downwardly through an opening 46 in the base portions 20 and 22 of the U-shaped members 14 and 16 as seen in FIG. 3. The stake 42 includes a pointed end portion 50 extending below the base portions 20 and 22 of the U- shaped members 14 and 16 which penetrates a sufficient depth into the ground 52 to hold the garbage can holder 10 in place on the ground 52. It is seen that the stake 42 may be easily attached and removed by inserting it through the opening 46 and threadably attaching it to the members 28 and 30 forming the support base for the garbage can I2 at the top of the garbage can holder 10.

It is seen in FIG. 5 that anchoring bolts 60 are provided in a concrete slab 64 and extend through opening 62 in the base portion 22 of the U-shaped member 16 and thus hold the garbage can holder 10 in place.

It is further seen that the only welding required is at the ends of the upper crossmembers 28 and 30 to the legs 24 and 26 of the U-shaped members 14 and 16 at the juncture of the inwardly and upwardly extending portions with the vertical portions 32 and 34. Additionally, the upper ends of the vertical portions 32 and 34 are welded to the circular band 36. Thus it is seen that this garbage can holder may be quickly assembled and utilizes a minimum number of parts.

It is seen that the larger in diameter base defined by the length of the base portions 20 and 22 of the U-shaped members l4 and 16 provides the stability for the garbage can holder 10 and the smaller in diameter garbage can 12 which is positioned a substantial distance above the ground to comply with local code regulations. Typically the garbage can may be located a foot above the ground. The pointed stake portion 50 may be driven into the ground as much as is required. Under normal conditions about 21 inches is sufiicient.

As seen in FIG. 1, a trailer court is a common place for use of the garbage can holder 10 in and near trailers 70. It is to be understood that this holder could be used almost anywhere including trailer courts, residential areas and industrial facilities.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my GARBAGE CAN HOLDER without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A garbage can holder comprising:

a pair of upstanding U-shaped members having base portions in engagement with each other and forming a cross;

a second pair of members in engagement with each other and forming a cross with their outer ends secured to the upper ends of the legs of the U-shaped members;

said legs having guide portions extending above said second pair of members and being interconnected by an arcuate member thereby providing a chamber adapted to receive the bottom end of a garbage can; and

a rod means is secured to said base portions at their intersection with each other and includes an anchor portion which extends downwardly for penetration into a support, said rod means extends through an opening formed in the intersection of said cross portions and includes an upstanding portion extending along the longitudinal center axis for engagement with the intersection of said second pair of members.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said legs have portions uniformly and angularly extending from said base portions inwardly toward the longitudinal center and terminating at said second pair of members and the juncture with said guide portions whereby said guide members define a circle smaller in diameter than the outer ends of said base portions of said pair of upstanding U-shaped members.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said pair of U-shaped members are identical in construction and shape and are each fonned form a single piece of material.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein said guide portions are substantially vertically disposed relative to said angularly disposed portions.

, 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the length of said angularly disposed portions is such that the longitudinal distance between said base portions and said second pair of members fonning a support for a garbage can is greater than the height of said guide portions adapted to embrace a garbage can.

6. The structure of claim I wherein said upstanding portion of said rod means is threadably secured to said second pair of members and passes freely through said opening in said base portions of said U-shaped members, and said anchor portion is pointed for ground support penetration.

7. The structure of claim I wherein portions of said U- shaped members include holes which can receive bolt means anchored in a support. 

